The dangers of answering the door with gun in hand

T

tstr

New member
Just finished reading the thread “Stranger at your door late at night -- do you grab your gun?”
and it reminded me of an incident that happened to my neighbor.

He was at home one night and his dog started barking at something outside. Normally when that happens he grabs his shotgun and investigates. This particular evening, by pure chance, he decided to investigate without the shotgun in hand -- lucky for him. He opens the door to his garage and steps outside and hears, "Freeze! Police!” In the darkness he can barely make out a pair of cops each crouched low behind cover with their guns out and trained on him.

Turns out the local liquor store had been robed and some “helpful” citizen had noticed his Landcruiser driving by about the same time and gave the cops his license. So the cops decided to check it out.

Well, my neighbor didn’t have any problems convincing the cops that he had nothing to do with the robbery, but he shook for weeks afterwards at the answer he got to this question. “What would you guys have done if I’d answered the door with my shotgun like I normally do?”

“You’d have been dead. No questions asked.”
 
I got a call from the local PD one evening wanting to know if I owned a certain vehical. When I replied no I had sold it several months previously they informed me that it had been envolved in an armed robbery. I found out the new owner had not changed the title to their name and was driving around using my insurance card and title and that it had been stolen and used in a liquor store robbery. Always take the new owner down and watch them change the title to their name. I found out I was legally responsible for any damage done with that vehical until the name was changed with the state lisence agent.
 
There is a very significant difference between investigating a disturbance outside, and answering a knock at your door armed.

Your friend was well within his rights to inverstigate a disturbance. I say that with the understanding he was still on his own property.
A what if, but what do you think your friend would have done if he'd found the guy the LEO were looking for, unarmed?

Best Regards,
Don

------------------
The most foolish mistake we could make would be to allow the subjected people to carry arms;
History shows that all conquerers who have allowed their subjected people to carry arms have prepared their own fall.
Adolf Hitler
-----------------
"Corrupt the young, get them away from religion. Get them interested in sex. Make them superficial, and destroy their rugged- ness.
Get control of all means of publicity, and thereby get the peoples' mind off their government by focusing their attention on athletics, sexy books and plays, and other trivialities.
Divide the people into hostile groups by constantly harping on controversial matters of no importance."

Vladimir Ilich Lenin, former leader of USSR

[This message has been edited by Donny (edited July 04, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Donny (edited July 04, 2000).]
 
One problem which seems to arise in these discussions is the "one size fits all" aspect. We're not in the killing business, so discretion and common sense are initially paramount.

"Control your environment" says El Guru, and a large part of that is information. If you don't know what's going on, you absolutely have no control. Thus, your loud "Hello?" or "What's going on?" from concealment of whatever sort strikes me as rational.

AFTER you have helpful information, THEN you make the appropriate decision as to whether or not active self defense is needed. (By active, I mean gun actually in hand, rather than handy or convenient via holster, pocket, or nearby location.)

I think this would apply to a knock on one's door, or a disturbance in one's yard--whether it's good guys or bad guys outside.

FWIW, Art
 
TSTR;
What I would like to know is why the 2 officers where sculking around his place at night rather then knocking at his door!!!
You know they ran the license number and got a complete printout on him.Too much of this type of inforcement going on and wonder why some people get killed.I would have gone out armed,like I allway do.Who's fault would the shooting have been?I have a right to investigate noises on my property.Do the police have a right to search on my property without my knowledge or I assume without a warrent???Its not right.

------------------
beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
 
In my rural neighborhood, if you don't answer the door armed, you're a distinct minority!!! :)

If it's after about 8 PM or it's dark, I ALWAYS answer the door myself and I'm ALWAYS armed. Usually a .45, sometimes a .44Mag, and if we're suspitious, my wife grabs either her .38 or the .44 Mag rifle.

Here in Washington state, It's perfectly legal to be armed in your own house. As long as you don't "threaten" anyone, you're OK.

I'm going to have a sign made: Before entering: REMOVE BALACLAVA, SAFE WEAPON, KNOCK LOUDLY.

------------------
"Carry" on

Rick

I prefer armed combat to unarmed combat. It's easier on the knuckles.
 
I am somewhat surprised at the officers reply to the question.

“You’d have been dead. No questions asked.”

Answering the door with a gun in your hand is a little bit different then answering the door and pointing at someone. Obviously we weren't there but I would imagine that he would not have opened the door and walk out John Wayne style and point the weapon at the officers. More likey he would have walked out, or opened the door with the gun at his side, but ready to use if needed. If the officer fired and killed this person in this situation I'm not sure the officers could claim self defense.

I am however, glad your friend did not have to find out whether this officer was going to identify himself before he fired or not.
 
I live in rural Texas. Looooooong way from my door step to the sheriffs office. Also a looooooong way from the public road to my door. If my dogs are barking after dark, then there's something in my yard that needs shooting. After dark my door is always answered under arms. :)

------------------
Liberty or Death......... without compromise.
 
I will go with the handgun behind the leg or at the side, that situation is very rare I imagine, but you should still answer the door armed, but just be mindfull of what could transpire.

------------------
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property...Horrid mischief would ensue were the law abiding deprived the use of them" --Thomas Paine, 1775

www.2ndamdlvr.homestead.com/home.html
 
I always carry my sig in it's bagmaster when at home. I can pull and hip fire and take you (not you personally) down dead center X-ring at 15 feet if need be. That is a lot further than the front porch from my door.(I can do this this in less than 1 second). If it happens to be an LEO it's either my brother, son, or stepson or one of my buddies. NEVER!!! answer the door with a weapon in hand. That is an immediate threat to someone who might be LEO etc. Practice quick thumbsnap holster draw and fire. If an LEO for some reason sees you have a holstered weapon the response will be much better than if the weapon is in a "ready" position.
 
tstr, in the current anti gun climate with the media and the potential for misunderstanding with the police, I suggest instead of a shotgun or handgun in hand, do on your property what many CCW holders do. Carry your favorite handgun in a clip on IWB holster CONCEALED. Alessi makes a very good one called the Talon, or Uncle Mike's has one with a metal clip. During any weather or time of day, the clip can be used with shorts, sweats, pants or PJs for that matter. I don't know of any law that says you cannot carry this way in your own home and a tee shirt or any untucked garment will hide it. You might check your local laws on this type of carry. Even if someone gets the drop on you they don't know you are carrying and you may still have a chance to survive an encounter as with those two policemen. MWT
 
These cops really said "freeze"? hahaha! Anyway, sounds like he got a real good lesson in tactical awareness. Stay aware, stay alert, don't give ANYBODY the chance to get the drop on you.
 
big spotlights to turn the yard as bright as a nightime football field.

Windows that are tinted so it's real hard to see if I'm looking at you from inside-especially since I have a power switch in both the bedroom and near my chair in the livingroom that kills ALL lights in the house at once,

Rifle for first look out the window and handgun, behind leg for opening the door.

Keep it safe but keep prepped.
 
Sorry, Siggy. I'll answer the door with a gun in my hand just about every time.

Sheriff's Deputies (in civies w/unmarked car) have come to my door, I've answered with the gov't model in my right hand (behind the door) and they've never been the wiser.

When I see who it is, I drop the handgun on my recliner (still behind the door) and invite him in for coffee.

Obviously, when they come in uniform, driving a patrol car, I don't bother with the gun.

Perhaps I should mention that they know I was in EMS and know nearly all the people in our subdivision. Seeing my car in the driveway, they frequently stop by for directions to the home of one neighbor or another. ;)

------------------
Either you believe in the Second Amendment or you don't.
Stick it to 'em! RKBA!
 
Anyone know where I can get some flash-bangs? If there's a russlin' in the bushes, I figure one of these will solve that problem right quick. :)
 
Sorry, Siggy. This ain't a police state. Unknown trespassers on my property are a threat to me and my family until they prove otherwise. I'll play it Dennis's way, and smart enough to avoid any harsh eventualities, but if some cops were snooping around on my property on something so flimsy as the tip of a passer-by, we'd have to take a little meeting down at city hall the next day.

Sounds like those cops are either of the "ain't too bright" variety, or they're adrenaline junkies. Or they have very little respect for the concept of private property. Walking around in the dark on property not your own is a bad idea, cop or no cop.

I don't open the door at night for anyone I don't know. As I'm always wearing the 1911, for nighttime knocks (never had one, by the way) I've got the 12 ga. pump handy, with the .45 on my hip for phase 2. For investigating noises, once I grab the 12, the floodlights come on, the dogs are let out, I check the windows, and wait for the dogs to return. If'n they don't return, or quit barking, there's something there. If they come back quietly, situation's probably clear.

So far I've scared the hell out of some possums, a couple raccoons, and the neighbor's cat (who doesn't come around any more).
 
Well, if you like a shotgun better than a pistol, it's equally as easy to hide the shotgun out of view behind the cracked door, rather than behind your leg. If you see LEOs with guns trained, drop the shotgun and show hands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top